Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery Opens In July

When the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery opens in July, it will be the first place in East Tennessee where you can buy moonshine legally.

In the past it wasn’t something a lot of people talked about, but many people made and drank it.

“My family has been really involved in the culture of moonshining for some time,” says Joe Baker, one of the owners of the new distillery. “I had a great uncle that was known for moonshine.”

Baker says it’s been a challenge opening the distillery.

“We had to show the government we could put out a product that was going to be done in a consistent manner,” says Baker. “That was going to be lawful.”

They plan to sell the moonshine in Mason jars like it has been done for many years.

They want to produce the moonshine as close to the original as possible. They buy the corn it is made out of from local farmers, and they plan to keep the prices low.

Ole Smoky Distillery will start selling moonshine to the public on July 2, 2010. At the grand opening celebration they will offer tours, free samples of moonshine to adults over 21, and moonshine for sale.

I realize that I shouldn’t be putting the antics of Popcorn up against the legitimacy of this new business that’s breaking ground, but it’s just hard not too.